Better Objective Sleep Was Associated with Better Subjective Sleep and Physical Activity; Results from an Exploratory Study under Naturalistic Conditions among Persons with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) often complain about sleep problems. There is less known about objective sleep-electroencephalography (EEG) dimensions within naturalistic conditions (i.e., home and/or familiar setting). The present cross-sectional study examined the associations between objective and subjective sleep, depression, physical activity scores, and MS-related information among PwMS in their familiar setting. The sample consisted of 16 PwMS (mean age: 50.3 years; median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): 5.5) who completed questionnaires covering subjective sleep (symptoms of insomnia, restless legs syndrome (RLS) and sleep-disordered breathing), as well as daytime sleepiness, subjective physical activity, depression, and MS-related information (fatigue, EDSS; disease-modifying treatments). Objective sleep was assessed with a mobile sleep-EEG device under naturalist conditions within the home. Descriptively, better objective sleep patterns were associated with lower sleep complaints (rs = −0.51) and daytime sleepiness (rs = −0.43), and with lower symptoms of RLS (rs = −0.35), but not with sleep-disordered breathing (rs = −0.17). More deep sleep was associated with higher moderate physical activity levels (rs = 0.56). Objective sleep parameters were not associated with vigorous physical activity levels (rs < 0.25). Descriptively, moderate and vigorous physical activity scores were associated with lower symptoms of RLS (rs = −0.43 to −0.47). Results from this small study carried out under naturalistic conditions suggest that among PwMS, better objective sleep correlated with better subjective sleep and higher moderate physical activity levels.